Abstract: In the case of a head restraint which is connected to the backrest (5) of a vehicle seat, a padded segment (9) which can be changed in position relative to the basic body (1) of the head restraint can be shifted, in the event of an accident, under the action of a force-generating device from the use position toward the seat occupant's head (10) into a safety position and can be locked therein by means of a fixing device. According to the invention, the fixing device comprises a telescope (11) which, on the one hand, is supported on the basic body (1) and, on the other hand, is connected to the shiftable padded segment (9), it being possible for the resetting forces (FR) which act on the padded element to be introduced into the telescope in a direction deviating from the telescope axis (X).